Police: Wrong-way crash turns into cab theft attempt, assault

(Video courtesy of Leoule Goshu, who recorded the incident early Friday morning.)

Seattle police are investigating an early Friday hit and run crash that turned into an attempted taxi cab theft.

A frame from the cell-phone video recording taken by one of the witnesses Friday. A 26-year-old man was arrested for investigation of assault and robbery, and is also being investigated for hit-and-run and DUI with a suspended license. (SPD)

At 2 a.m., officers were called to the intersection of 7th Avenue and Union Street following a report that a wrong-way driver had collided with another car. Witnesses told police those in the offending vehicle jumped out of the car and boarded a taxi in an attempt to flee the area.

When bystanders stopped the cab and told the taxi driver what his fares were up to, one of the suspects tried to grab the keys to the cab, police spokesman Detective Mark Jamieson said in a statement.

The suspect then punched a witness, who was recording the incident on his cell phone, in the face, breaking his jaw. The suspect and his two passengers then fled on foot.

Officers arrested the car’s driver and two passengers near the scene, Jamieson said. They were subsequently identified by witnesses.

The driver, a 26-year-old man, was arrested for suspicion of assault, robbery and hit and run. He’s also suspected of drunk driving.

The bystander whose jaw was broken was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.